Pelargonium plant named ‘Duevisalpi’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Zonal Geranium plant named ‘Duevisalpi’, characterized by its upright to outwardly spreading plant habit; vigorous growth habit; freely basal branching habit; dark green-colored leaves with a distinct zonation pattern; freely flowering habit; semi-double salmon red-colored flowers; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Pelargonium zonale.

Cultivar denomination: ‘DUEVISALPI’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of ZonalGeranium plant, botanically known as Pelargonium zonale and hereinafterreferred to by the name ‘Duevisalpi’.

The new Zonal Geranium plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Rheinberg, Germany. The objective of thebreeding program is to create new vigorous Zonal Geranium plants withdark green-colored leaves and attractive flowers.

The new Zonal Geranium plant originated from a cross-pollination made bythe Inventor in December, 2005 in Rheinberg, Germany of a proprietaryselection of Pelargonium zonale identified as code number F-06-18, notpatented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection ofPelargonium zonale identified as code number F-12-01, not patented, asthe male, or pollen, parent. The new Zonal Geranium plant was discoveredand selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within theprogeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouseenvironment in Rheinberg, Germany in May, 2009.

Asexual reproduction of the new Zonal Geranium plant by vegetativeterminal cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Rheinberg,Germany since May, 2009 has shown that the unique features of this newZonal Geranium plant are stable and reproduced true to type insuccessive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Zonal Geranium have not been observed under allpossible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment and cultural practices such as temperature andlight intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Duevisalpi’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Duevisalpi’ as a new and distinct cultivar ofZonal Geranium plant:

-   -   1. Upright to outwardly spreading plant habit.    -   2. Vigorous growth habit.    -   3. Freely basal branching habit.    -   4. Dark green-colored leaves with a distinct zonation pattern.    -   5. Freely flowering habit.    -   6. Semi-double salmon red-colored flowers.    -   7. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Zonal Geranium differ primarily from plants of theparent selections in flower color as plants of the female parentselection have red-colored flowers and plants of the male parentselection have pink-colored flowers. In addition, plants of the newZonal Geranium are more vigorous than plants of the parent selections.

Plants of the new Zonal Geranium can be compared to plants ofPelargonium zonale ‘Dueimgab’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 21,112.In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Rheinberg, Germany, plants ofthe new Zonal Geranium differed primarily from plants of ‘Dueimgab’ inflower color as plants of ‘Dueimgab’ had salmon pink-colored flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearanceof the new Zonal Geranium plant showing the colors as true as it isreasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values citedin the detailed botanical description which accurately describe thecolors of the new Zonal Geranium plant. The photograph comprises a sideperspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Duevisalpi’ grown in acontainer.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photograph and following observations andmeasurements describe plants grown during the summer in 10.5-cmcontainers in a glass-covered greenhouse in Rheinberg, Germany and underconditions which closely approximate commercial production. During theproduction of the plants, day and night temperatures averaged 18° C. andlight levels averaged 4,500 lux. Plants were pinched one time threeweeks after planting. Plants were 13 weeks old when the photograph andthe description were taken. In the detailed description, colorreferences are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart,1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionarysignificance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Pelargonium zonale ‘Duevisalpi’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of            Pelargonium zonale identified as code number F-06-18, not            patented.        -   Male or pollen parent.—Proprietary selection of Pelargonium            zonale identified as code number F-12-01, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By vegetative terminal cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About five days at            temperatures of 20° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About seven days at            temperatures of 20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About three            weeks at temperatures of 20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About four            weeks at temperatures of 20° C.        -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; white in color.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching.-   Plant description:    -   -   General appearance.—Upright to outwardly spreading plant            habit; uniformly rounded; densely foliated.        -   Growth and branching habit.—Vigorous growth habit; freely            basal branching habit with about three basal branches            developing per plant; pinching enhances lateral branch            development.        -   Plant height to top of flower umbels.—About 21 cm.        -   Plant height to top of foliar plane.—About 15 cm.        -   Plant width.—About 21 cm.        -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 6 cm. Diameter: About 6 mm.            Internode length: About 1.3 cm. Texture: Pubescent.            Strength: Moderately strong. Color: Close to 144B.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate; simple.        -   Length.—About 5.1 cm.        -   Width.—About 5.5 cm.        -   Shape.—Reniform.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Cordate.        -   Margin.—Crenate.        -   Venation pattern.—Palmate.        -   Texture, upper surface.—Pubescent.        -   Texture, lower surface.—Smooth, glabrous.        -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 137A.            Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 137C to 137D.            Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 137A;            venation, close to 144A. Fully expanded leaves, lower            surface: Close to 137D; venation, close to 143C.        -   Zonation pattern.—Distinct. Distance from margin: About            9 mm. Width: About 8 mm. Color: Close to 165A to 165B.        -   Petiole.—Length: About 6.8 cm. Diameter: About 2.4 mm.            Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,            upper and lower surfaces: Close to 143A.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower arrangement.—Semi-double flowers arranged in rounded            hemispherical umbels arising from apical leaf axils; umbels            displayed above the foliage on moderately strong peduncles;            flowers face upright to outward.        -   Fragrance.—Not detected.        -   Quantity of flowers.—Freely flowering habit; about 24            flowers and flower buds per umbel; about 160 to 180 flowers            develop per plant.        -   Flowering season.—Year-round under greenhouse conditions; in            outdoor nurseries and gardens in Germany flowering is            continuous from spring throughout the summer; plants begin            flowering about eight weeks after planting.        -   Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about five to            seven days on the plant; flowers persistent.        -   Umbel height.—About 5 cm.        -   Umbel diameter.—About 7.5 cm.        -   Flower diameter.—About 4.5 cm by 4 cm.        -   Flower depth (height).—About 2.1 cm.        -   Flower buds.—Length: About 1.1 cm. Diameter: About 5.8 mm.            Shape: Ovoid. Color: Close to 58D.        -   Petals.—Quantity per flower: About five in a single whorl.            Length: About 2.1 cm. Width: About 1.7 cm. Shape: Obovate.            Apex: Rounded. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Sinuate. Texture,            upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color: When            opening and fully opened, upper surface: Close to 57C; color            becoming closer to 57B with development. When opening and            fully opened, lower surface: Close to 67C and 68D; color            becoming closer to 57B with development.        -   Petaloids.—Quantity per flower: About three. Length: About            1.8 cm. Width: About 1.2 cm. Shape: Obovate. Apex: Rounded.            Base: Attenuate. Margin: Sinuate. Texture, upper and lower            surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color: When opening and fully            opened, upper surface: Close to 57C. When opening and fully            opened, lower surface: Close to 67C and 68D.        -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: Five arranged in a single            whorl. Length: About 1 cm. Width: About 3.4 mm. Shape:            Ensiform. Apex: Acuminate. Base: Acute. Margin: Entire.            Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,            upper surface: Close to 143C tinted with close to 183D.            Color, lower surface: Close to 143B tinted with close to            181A.        -   Peduncle (umbel stem).—Length: About 10 cm to 11 cm.            Diameter: About 4 mm. Strength: Moderately strong. Texture:            Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 144A.        -   Pedicel (individual flower stem).—Length: About 2.1 cm.            Diameter: About 1 mm to 2 mm. Strength: Moderately strong.            Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 144C tinted with            close to 183D.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity per flower:            About ten. Filament length: About 6.4 mm. Filament color:            Close to 155C and 66B. Anther length: About 2 mm. Anther            shape: Oval. Anther color: Close to 179A. Pollen amount:            Moderate. Pollen color: Close to 28A. Gynoecium: Pistil            quantity per flower: One. Pistil length: About 8 mm. Stigma            shape: Parted. Stigma color: Close to 47A. Style length:            About 2 mm. Style color: Close to 60C. Ovary color: Close to            144B.        -   Seed/fruit.—Seed and fruit development have not been            observed.-   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Zonal Geranium have not    been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Zonal    Geraniums.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Zonal Geranium have been    observed to tolerate rain, wind, and temperatures ranging from about    5° C. to about 40° C. and have demonstrated good garden performance.

1. A new and distinct Zonal Geranium plant named ‘Duevisalpi’ asillustrated and described.